Electrical connector with actuating mechanism

Abstract

An electrical connector ( 1 ) includes a base ( 10 ) defining a number of contact-receiving passages, a number of contacts received in the contact-receiving passages of the base, a cover ( 11 ) mounted to an upper surface of the base, and an actuating mechanism ( 12 ) disposed between the base and the cover. The actuating mechanism includes a rotator ( 14 ) penetrating through the cover and a transmission element ( 16 ) connecting with the rotator, the base and the cover. The rotation of the rotator drives the rotation of the transmission element which is capable of driving the cover to slide relative to the base.

1. An electrical connector, comprising:
 a base defining a plurality of contact-receiving passages; 
 a cover slidably mounted to an upper surface of the base; and 
 an actuating mechanism disposed between the base and the cover and comprising a rotator penetrating through the cover and a transmission element connecting with all of the rotator, the base and the cover; and wherein 
 the rotation of the rotator drives the transmission element to pivot relative to the base, the movement of the transmission element driving the cover to slide relative to the base. 
 
     
     
       2. The electrical connector as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the cover and the transmission element provides a first retention tab, and wherein the other of the cover and the transmission element provides a first receiving slat to receive the first retention tab to farm the connection between the cover and the transmission element. 
     
     
       3. The electrical connector as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the cover comprises a cover plate and a first connecting member disposed below the cover plate, and wherein said first retention tab extends from the first connecting member toward the transmission element. 
     
     
       4. The electrical connector as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the first connecting member comprises a substantially flat first base portion forming at least a pair of first retention portions bending toward the cover plate, and wherein the cover plate defines at least a pair of cover receiving slits to receive the first retention portions. 
     
     
       5. The electrical connector as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the first base portion of the first connecting member forms a pair of restriction portions bending toward the transmission element, and wherein the transmission element is capable of rotating between the pair of restriction portions. 
     
     
       6. The electrical connector as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the base and the transmission element provides a second retention tab, and wherein the other of the base and the transmission element provides a second receiving slot to receive the second retention tab to form the connection between the base and the transmission element. 
     
     
       7. The electrical connector as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said base comprises a base plate and a second connecting member retained to the base plate, and wherein said second retention tab extends from the second connecting member toward the transmission element. 
     
     
       8. The electrical connector as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said transmission element comprise a main body forming at least a pair of enhancing ribs bending toward the base, and wherein the at least a pair of enhancing ribs abut against the base. 
     
     
       9. The electrical connector as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said base comprises a base plate and a second connecting member, and wherein said second connecting member is retained to the base plate and the first connecting member. 
     
     
       10. The electrical connector as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cover comprises a cover plate and a second connecting member, and wherein the second connecting member forms at least a pair of second retention portions, and the cover plate defines at least a pair of base receiving slits to receive the second retention portions. 
     
     
       11. An electrical connector, comprising:
 stationary base defining a plurality of contact-receiving passages and adapted for being fixed to a printed circuit board; 
 a plurality of contacts received in the contact-receiving passages adapted for electrically connecting with the printed circuit board; 
 a moveable cover sliderably mounted to the base adapted for supporting a chip module which electrically connects the contacts to form electrical connection with the printed circuit board, the cover comprising a pair of restriction portions; and 
 an actuating mechanism disposed between the base and the cover and comprising a rotator penetrating through the cover and a transmission element connecting with the rotator, the base and the cover; and wherein 
 the transmission element is capable of being driven by the rotator to drive the cover to slide relative to the stationary base and is capable of moving between the pair of restriction portions. 
 
     
     
       12. The electrical connector as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the base comprises a base plate and a first connecting member assembled to the bottom side of the base plate, and wherein at least one of the base plate and the first connecting member farms said pair of restriction portions to restrict the rotating range of the transmission element. 
     
     
       13. The electrical connector as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the cover and the transmission element provides a first retention tab, and wherein the other of the cover and the transmission element provides a first receiving slot to receive the first retention tab to form the connection between the cover and the transmission element. 
     
     
       14. The electrical connector as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the base and the transmission element provides a second retention tab, and wherein the other of the base and the transmission element provides a second receiving slot to receive the second retention tab to form the connection between the base and the transmission element. 
     
     
       15. The electrical connector as claimed in  claim 11 , further comprising a protecting mechanism positioned between the cover and the base, and wherein the protecting mechanism comprises a first connecting member moveable along with the cover and a second connecting member stationarily retained to the base. 
     
     
       16. The electrical connector as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the transmission element is positioned between the first and second connecting members and capable of actuating the first connecting member to move relative to the second connecting member. 
     
     
       17. An electrical connector comprising:
 a stationary base defining a plurality of contact-receiving passages and adapted for being fixed to a printed circuit board; 
 a plurality of contacts received in the contact-receiving passages adapted for electrically connecting with the printed circuit board; 
 a moveable cover sliderably mounted to the base adapted for supporting a chip module which electrically connects the contacts to form electrical connection with the printed circuit board; and 
 an actuating mechanism comprising a rotator synchronically moveable along with the cover in a front-to-back direction, and a transmission element defining first, second and third holes respectively engaged with the rotator, the base and the cover; and wherein 
 one of said second and third holes performs a fulcrum of the transmission element, by which the other of said second and third holes is located. 
 
     
     
       18. The electrical connector as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein said one is the third hole, and the other is the second hole.